Routine

As I write this I'm watching Jack roll from his tummy to his back in his crib on repeat. I'm amazed that this little baby who once couldn't move now has so much control over his body. Why am I watching him in his crib? He is on a new routine and it is "naptime/self soothe time." Notice his tired eyes as he is in mid roll? He needs a nap.

We'll call this, the parents needed sleep routine. Why did we start it? Because we were finding it nearly impossible to be productive citizens functioning on 4 hours of sleep and I talked to a trusted friend who swore by this technique.

This is all coming from the girl who HATES routines. In my former 30 years routine made me feel like a hamster on a wheel and eventually I would explode fly the coup and visit some exotic country and get my spontaneous spark back.

What are my new and improved thoughts on routine? I love it. Why? It's simple. Jack seems happier and we have a better expectation of what he needs and when he needs it. It's no longer a guessing game. Oh, and by the way, he's asleep now. He fell asleep on his own with no swing, rocking or parental coddling. It's a miracle, I tell you, a miracle.

And guess what, since we started this routine exactly one week ago, he started nearly sleeping through the night with one small bit that requires a pacifier or a blanket if he's cold. I guess routines aren't so bad after all. And hopefully if you have a great daycare like mine they will appreciate and follow your schedule.

Here is what works for us. This is on 90 minute intervals. 90 minutes awake time, 90 minutes asleep time:

6:30 am-Jack eats. Diaper change. Playtime.

8 am-Jack arrives at daycare for naptime in Pack N Play or swing if needed.

9:30 am-Jack eats. Diaper change. Playtime-tummy time, mobile, reading, playing with the other kids.

11 am-Naptime.

12:30 am-Jack eats. Diaper change. Playtime-tummy time, mobile, reading, playing with the other kids.

2 pm-Naptime.

3:30 pm-Jack eats. Diaper change. Playtime-tummy time, mobile, reading, playing with the other kids.

5 pm-Naptime. 

6:30 pm-Jack eats from bottle, rice cereal, bottle.

7 pm–Jumparoo, floor mobile, bath time, 5 books.

8 pm-Jack goes down in swing or crib.

9:30-Bottle in rocking chair upstairs.

10 pm-Jack goes down in crib for the night.